Ophthalmic mounting



Sept. 5, 1939. L. H. KIRK ET AL 2,171,753

OPHTHALMIC MOUNT ING Filed Oct. 6, 1938 011/11,, him/721 .2-

5/3 W1 Ha da/17m z 47 31-01 J $026901;

Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OPHTHALMIC MOUNTINGMartin Application October 6, 1938, Serial No. 233,614

10 Claims. ((11- 88-47) The present invention relates to ophthalmicmountings and particularly to improvements in means for securing thenose-pieces or bridges and the temples to the lenses of rimlesseyeglasses and spectacles.

One object of theinvention is to provide a mounting of the typeindicated having meansfor attaching the bridge, and in the case ofspectacles, the temples to the lenses without requiring accuratelocation of the screw holes therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting of the typeindicated which is adjustable to provide a close fit against the edge ofthe'lens irrespective of the exact location of the hole in the lens. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting of the typeindicated which is held snugly against the edge of the lens to preventplay. and looseness in the parts attached thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting of the typeindicated having a resilient hearing within the hole in the lens toabsorb shock and jar and prevent breakage of the latter whenthe'eyeglasses or spectacles are dropped or handled roughly.

Another object of the invention is to provide -a mounting of the typeindicated which is highly ornamental in appearance without the fasteningscrew or other mechanical means showing at the front of the lens.

Another object of the invention is to provide a readily applicablethereto for repair or replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting of the typeindicated which is simple in construction, neat andflnished inappearance, and generally more. efllcient for the purposes specifled.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the followingspecification which describes a preferred form of construction of theimproved mounting, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanyingdrawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pair of rimless spectaclesembodying the present improved means for attaching the,nose-piece orbridge and the temples to the lenses;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of one of the lenses showing thepresent improved mounting applied to use therewith;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged detailed view of the Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a part-sectional view of the takenon line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the mounting before itsadjustment with its shoe spaced at a distance from the edge of the lens;

Fig. 7 is a part-sectional view of the same taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of ,the several elements of themounting showing a fragment of the lens and illustrating the severalparts in disassembled relationship. j

The usual type of mounting for attaching the nosepiece or bridge to thelenses of rimless eyeglasses, and alsofor attaching the templesto thelenses of rimless spectacles, is provided with same mounting, shownpart-sectional on line 4-4 of means bearing against the edge of the lensand having strap portions straddling its opposite sides. The strapportions are usually perforated with holes through which a screw isinserted to project through a hole in the lens'with its end ,threadedinto one of the straps. It is almost imnot be fitted with theirshoe-portions bearingsnugly against the edges of the lenses. Moreover,

if the holes are of larger diameter; than the screws which attach themountings to provide for adjustment of the latter to fltthe ir shoesagainst the edges of the lenses the screws will be loose in the holes,causing play and shaclrly joints between the lenses and the partsattached thereto. For these reasons, as is well known, the mountings ofrimless eyeglasses and spectacles require frequent adjustment andtightening of their screws which is an inconvenience to the wearer.

.To overcome the defects and deficiencies of previously-used devicesthe, present invention provides a mounting having a screw or studformed.

. as a part thereof and inserted through a resiligether and,.preferably, the bushing hasaflange or collar overlying-the hole in therim of the lens and against which the nut impinges to further cushionthe Joint and hold the nut from mscrewing.

Referring to the accompanying drawing the present improved mounting isherein shown as applied to a pair of rlmless spectacles for attachingthe bridge or nose-piece 2. and also the temples 3, to the lenses. ablymade integral with the bridge or nose-piece 2 projecting from the sidesthereof in the form of a strap or car I of ornamental design. As hereinillustrated the strap or car I of the mounting is of substantiallyhexagonal shape with beveled facets and a tapering arm joined to theside of the nose-piece 2, but it may be shaped to any "other artisticcontour. In the case of the mounting for temples 3 the ear or strap I isformed as apartof a bifurcated hinge member 8 to which the end of thetemple 3 is pivoted by means of a. screw or rivet I, see Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, the ear or strap5 is joined to an elongate shoe H! which may be of lenticuiar shape withits fiat face H adapted to abut the edge of the lens 4, see Fig. 4. Whenthe mounting is to be usedwith lenses of a circular outline the shoe inmay be formed or bent to arcuate shape on its inner face to adapt it tofit snugly asainst the curved edge of the lens.

Projecting perpendicularly from the inner face of the ear or strap [is astud l2 formed with screw-threads at its end. Usually, the stud. orscrew I2 is made.- of considerable length and pointed at its end asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5', the. extra length providing thatit ma be used with lenses of varying thickness.

The sleeve or bushing ll, shown in perspective in Fig. 8,, is providedfor insertion through the 'hole It in'jthelens 4, the prefer-'- ablyformed with an oifs'et rim or fiange l1 adapted to abut the. inner faceof the lens as shown in Figs. 5 and 7.. A nut 2. is interiorly threadedto screw onto the end of-the stud or screw If in engagement with the endof the bushing Ii.

As one improved feature of the present invention the sleeve or bushingII is constructed with its bore ll locatedeccentricaliy of itsperiphery. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide that when thebushing is turned in the hole ll of the lens 4 it will adjust theposition of the screw or stud llfto draw the shoe ll snugly against theedge of the lens 4.

In applying the mounting to the lens the bushing it is first insertedthrough the hole- I from the rear with its rim or flange l'l abuttingthe inner face of the lens, itbeing noted by reference to Figs.- 5 and"I that the body of the bushing is of less length than the thickness ofthe lens at the location of the hole It. The ear I of the mounting'isnext placed against the forward face of the.lens 4 by inserting itsscrew it through the bore II in the bushing II or, if preferred, themounting may first be placed in position on the lens andthe bushing I!applied to the screw thereafter. With the parts thus assembled .the'

shoe ID will usually have its face ll spaced slightly away from the edgeof the lens. 4, as shown The mounting is prefermaterial such as thatsold under the trade-mark "Celluloid" or Zylonite or it may be of anyother plastic or resilient material. When thenut 20 is set up againstthe end of the bushing it will takea firm grip thereon tending to secureit from becoming released or loosened and thus preventing accidental orunwarranted loosening or disconnection-of the parts. Moreover, the useof a resilient material in the construction of the bushing l5 providesfor cushioning the joints between the parts to absorb the shock andstrain when the glasses are dropped or roughly handled.

After the parts have been assembled in the manner explained above theprojecting end of the screw or stud l2, indicated by dotted lines inFig. 3, may be out off by the use of cutting pliers or any othersuitable tool, thus providing a smooth finish at the end of the nut 20.g

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present inventionprovides a particularly staunch and rugged connection between themounting and the lens with protection. against breakage of the glasswhen the nut is set up against the bushing'and 'also insurance againstfracture of the lenses' when the spectacles are dropped. As a on lensesin which the distance between the hole and thaedge of the lens variesconsiderably, the

' provision of the eccentric bushing properly regulating the position ofthe shoe of the mounting with respect to the edge of the lens. As afurther feature of improvement, the pro vision ,of the flanged bushingobviates the use of a two-part strap on the mounting for straddling thesides of the lens. With the usual form of mounting having oppositestraps for straddling the sides of the lens it is practically impossibleto make the traps .fitsnugly against the faces of the lenses where thelatter are ground to different contours. In cases where the lenses tapertoward their edges only one strap portion will fit fiat against the sideof the lenswhile the opposite strap will be inclined with respectthereto so that a snug, secure connection cannot be made. With lenseshaving their inner faces of greater concavity than the convexity of theouter faces the opposite straps may bind against the outer edges of thelens but will not contact at all points therebeyond so that the jointcannot be made secure.

As still another feature of the improvement the mechanical means forattaching the present mounting to the lens is at the rearward sidethereof and therefore invisible from the front yghere the glasses areusually observed, the forward portions of the mounting being ofornamental shape to heighten the artistic effect. While the presentimproved mounting is herein shown and described as embodied in apreferred form of construction it is to be noted that variousmodifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its partswithout departing from the spirit or scope' of the invention. Therefore,without limiting ourselves to the exact construction shown. we claim: I

1. An improved mounting for eyeglasses and spectacles comprising amember having a portion adapted to overlie one face of the lens and ashoe for engagement with the edge thereof, an annular resilient bushingfitting the hole in the lens ing the mounting tothe lens. I face of thelens, said portion overlying the face of 5 2- An i p ove molmtlng' foreyeglasses and the lens having a rigid and non-rotatable prospectaclescomprising a member having a portion jecung stud extending t th openingin th adapted to abut one side of thelens with means lens t t l kingmeans adjacent itsouter for enga a a th dit t an annular end, a bushing'01 a length lessj'ithan the thin s.

1 resilient bushing fitting the hole in the lens and ne of the lensfitting t opening' l fl tng l ns nd m having bOre W @wehmcally 01 DDhhaving .a bore through which the, stud/extends, cry, a rigid andnon-rotatable stud projecting 1 hing having its bore'disposed nme fromthe mounting through the annular bushing. cally of its, periphery and a"shoulderoverlying said stud having screw thre ds t and the edge of theopening in theilfihscionthe side threaded onto the en f the Stud securethe of the lens opposite ,from the lens-engaging ear, 1

m unt n to the lensand interlocking means engaging the interlock- An impv mounting f eyeglasses l ing means on the stud beyond the shoulder ofthe p tac es mpri n a em er formed to abut bushing to hold the mountingand lensassembled one face of the lens and havinK means 8 and tofrictlonally lock the bushing against ing the edge thereof, an annularresilient busht m ing of a length 1858 than the thickness of the lens 8The process of assembling an ophthalmic fitting the hole in the lens andhaving a flange mounting of t character described comprising overly t 8thereof pp from the providing lens-holding means having a portionmounting, a ri and hohrl'omtable member for engaging the edge of a lensand a portion for having S01eW4hre8-dedlmrti0h Dl' j fl from engaging aface of said lens and having a rigid 5 the mountin thr u h e a nllllrbushi and and non-rotatable stud with connecting means a nut threadedonto the sai w w-p h 0f thereon, inserting said stud through an openingthe member and s t p against the flanged end in the lens, placingabushing or yieldable material of the bushing. having an eccentric boreand a flange adjacent so 4. An improv m u ti f r 81 and one end thereofon said non-rotatable stud within and having a bore disposedeccentrically of its periphery, a rigid and non-rotatable stud extendingfrom the mounting through the bore in the bushing, and means enga g saidstud for securspectacles comprising a member adapted to abut one sideofthe lens and provided wlth means for engaging the edge thereof, abushing of yieldable material fitting the hole in the lens and formedwith a bore disposed eccentrically of its periphery, a non-rotatablemember having a screw-threaded "portion extending from the mountingthrough the bore in the bushing, and

'means engagingtthe screw-threaded portion of said member for securingthe mounting to the lens.

5. An improved mounting for eyeglasses comprising a member having aportion adapted to means for engaging the edge'thereof, an annularresilient bushing-fitting the hole ln'the lens and formed with a boredisposed eccentrlcally of its periphery and a flange at its end. adaptedto abut the inner face of the lens, a non-rotatable memher having ascrew-threaded portion integral with the mounting member projectingthrough the bore of the bushing, and a nut threaded onto the end of thescrew-portion of said member and set up against the flanged end of thebushing to secure the mounting fixedly to the lens.

6. An ophthalmic mounting comprising lenses having connection openings,and lens-connecting means comprising a lens-strap having a portionengaging the edge 'of the lens and a connecting portion overlying oneface of the lens, said portion overlying the face of the lens having arigid and non-rotatable projecting stud extending into the opening inthe lens with interlocking means adjacent its outer end, a resilientbushing of a length less than the thickness ofthe lens fitted into theopening of the lens and having a bore in which the stud extends, saidbore being disposed eccentrically of the axis of the opening in thelens-said bushing having a projecting shoulder on the side oppositethelens-connecting ear and overlying the edge-of the openingin the lens.and

interlocking means with the interlock ing means of the stud beyond theshoulder of the bushing to hold the mounting andlens together.

having openings for the reception of lens-holding members, andlens-connecting means comprising a lens-strap having. a portion engagingthe edge of the lens-and a connecting portion overlying the the openingin the lens, rotating said bushing on the bushing, and securing aconnecting memberto said connecting means of the stud in such 'a manneras to secure'the lens-holding means to the lens without altering thetightness of fit of its edge-engaging portion with the edge of the lensand to simultaneously lock the bushing of iyieldable material againstturning. abut the outer face of a lens and provided with a ing a.portion for engaging the edge of the lens and a connecting portion foroverlying the face of the lens, said portion for overlying the face ofthe lens having a projecting stud non-rotatably connected to thelens-strap adaptedto extend into the opening in the lens and havinginterlocking means adjacent'lts outer free end. a bushing having a bodyportion adapted to fit within the opening in the lens and having ashouldered portion for engaging the edge of the opening in the lens,said body portion having a bore disposed eccentrlcally of its peripherythrough which the stud is adapted to extend and being of a length which,when fitted in the opening in the lens with the shouldered portionengaging the edge of the opening in said lens, is less than thethickness of the lens by an amount which will provide a space betweenthe inner end of said body pormeanaon the stud andgyvhich my betightened tojintroduce a binding action the lensstrap and lens andfl'lctionally lock the bushing against I u 7. Anophthalmic mountingcomprising v 16 l 10. An ophthalmic mounting comprisingolensgs;

having openings for the reception of lens holding members and lensconnecting means comprising a. lens-strap having a portion eng ing theedge a of the lens and a connecting portion overlying a face of thelens, said portion overlying a face of the lens having a projecting studnon-rotatably connected to the lens-strap and extending'into the openingin thelens and having interlocking 10 means adjacent its outer free end,a bushing having a body portion fitting within the opening in the lensand having a shouldered portion engaging the edge 01 the opening in thelens, said body portion having a bore disposed eccentrically of itsperiphery through which the stud is extended and being ota length, withthe shouldered portion engaging the edge 01 'the opening iiiald lensthat is less than the thickness of the lens so that the inner end ofsaidbody portion is in spaced relation with the adjacent inner sur:

face of the lens-strap whereby the said body por- 'tion is free to movein a direction longitudinally of the opening in the lens to allow theshouldered portion to be moved into frictional contact with the adjacentsurface of the lens and separate interlocking means in engagement withthe inter-, locking means on the stud tightened so as to introduce abinding action between the lens-strap and lens and frictionally lock thebushing against turning.

LLOYD H. KIRK. BROR J. JACOBSON.

